Walking crutch



July 11,

A. FINKBEINER El' AL WALKING CRUTCH med Feb. 17, 1952 gmc/nto@ Adolf' Fl'nkbener, Elizabef. Mildred 'Tnkbener.

Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f .enorm FINKBEINEB AND ELIzABETrr MILDRED FINKBEINEB, or 'WooniiroNilxv l CONNECTICUT WALKING Cnu'rcn Application filed February 17, 1932. Serial No. 593,438.

Our invention relates to a walking crutch of that class which is designed to support the weight of a person and at the same time make it possible for them to propel themselves about by their feet and thus acquire a certain amount of exercise without undue exert-ion, and the device is particularly for invalids and those not having the full use of their legs.

e The obj ect of the invention is to provide a device that shall be simple, durable and ellicient, contain few partsand be adjustable for persons of different weights and sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of this kind, means whereby the operator has full control of the device at all times. t

Still another object is to .provide an article of this class that shall be compact, and

require a minimum amount of room, and be easily transported from place to place.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in certain novel construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and in which like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views, and it is understood 30 that slight changes may be made -without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure Y2 shows a front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section of the hand grip and method of adjusting the same.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail View of the seat and it-s supporting post and adjustment.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail partly in section of one-of the wheels and the brake therefore.

Figure 6 is an enlarged 'detail sectional view of the rear braces, seat post and the adjustment of the braces. j Referring again to the drawing- While we have here illustrated the ,device as being constructed of metal tubing andv fittings, it is understood that any suitable Inaterials may be employed and of any desired shape and size, and while the joints arehere shown as welded or brazed, they may be secured by pins or otherwise.

The device comprises the two front legs 1() which are bent outward towards the bottom as shown, and the two rear legs 11 of a similar shape; the upper ends of the legs being provided with the fittings 13 and 14 to which are secured the tops12; While the side braces 15 and 16 are secured by the fittings 17 and 18 to the front legs l() and tothe rear legs 11 by the fittings 21 and 62. p l

'Ifo the fittings 62 are secured the short pieces 63 having secured thereto the fittings 20 which hold the outer ends of the divided rear brace 22; while the" ,fitting 21 also retains thevouter ends of the similar rear braces 23. The inner ends of these rear cross braces 22 and 23 are adjustably mounted within the 70 heads 33 of the tubular seat post 33 b the pins or bolt-s 34 which are assed throng any of aseries/ of holes 35 an 36 in such a manner -that the distance between the sides may be adjusted in `or out. 76

The device also has an adjustable and removable ront cross brace in two parts 24 ,which is pivoted as at 2,5 to the fittings 19,

and has the sleeve 31 secured to the inner ends by the pins or bolts 32 in the holes 37, 80 and by the removal of the pins 25 this brace may be removed if desired.

Within holes formed in the side cross braces 15 and tops 12 are slidably mounted the vertical rods 46 upon the upper ends of l5 which are secured the arm rests 59 and an adjusting threaded bolt 60 is securedto said arm rest 59 and extends through a vertical hole in the top 12 and is locked in an adjustable manner therein by the nuts 61 abdve and below said top 12 in such amanner that the height of the arm rest 59 may be adjusted with respect to the licor. Y.

Slidably and adjustably mounted on the rods 46 are the hand grips 48 which are formed with bearings for embracing said rods' 46 and clamping thereon by the action of the split. ends 47 having the retaining bolts 49 and nuts 50, and in this manner the hand grips 48 may be secured in any desired position on the rods 46.

The seat post 33 is provided with a sliding seat supporting member 38 adapted to"be adjusted thereon and retained by the set screw 39 threaded therein and entering any desired hole 66 in the post 33.

Said seat supporting member 38 is formed with a pair of ears 40 within which is pivoted the rear end of the seat 41 by the pin 51; while the lower part of 'said seat 41 is provided with a guideway 42 within which is slidably mounted the outer end of a brace rod 43, the lower end of which is pivoted to a pair of ears 44 formed on said seat supporting member 38, in such a manner that said seat may be raised when not in use, and if desired a spring may be employed for normally retaining the seat in a raised position.

The front wheels 27 are in the form of casters and are mounted on the shafts 30 within the arms 26 which swivel on the ends of the legs 10 allowing the device to be steered in any direction. y

The rear wheels 28 are mounted on the shafts 29 within the bifurcated ends of the legs 11, and above said wheels 28 within the bifurcated end 52 is pivoted one end of the brake shoe 53 on the pin 54; while the outer end of said brake shoe is formed with an ear 56 within which is pivoted the lower end of the brake rod the upper end of which is pivoted to a hand lever 57 which is pivoted to the fitting 62 by the pin 64, in such a manner that by a down pressure on said hand lever 57 the brake shoe 53 is applied to the rear wheel, and by extending the pin 54 across to the other rear wheel and attaching two brake shoes thereon, both rear wheels may be operated upon by the brake from the single rod 55 and lever 57.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A walking crutch comprising a frame formed of front and rear legs, tops securing said front and rear legs together at their upper ends, fixed side braces secured to said front and rear legs, arm rest supports mounted within the tops and lixed side braces,

means for adjusting said arm rest supports,-

arm rest carried thereby, hand grips adjustably mounted on said arm rest supports and means for locking the same, adjustable rear braces secured to the rear legs and means for retaining the same in an adjusted position, and a front brace secured to the front legs in 'an adjustable and removable manner. Y

2. A walking crutch comprising airame composed of front and rear legs secured together atktheir tops by top slide braces, fixed side braces secured to said front and rear legs, adjustable rear braces secured to said rear legs, an adjustable and removable front brace secured to said front legs, a seat post secured to said adjustable rear braces, a seat supporting member adjustably mounted on said seat post, a seat hinged thereto and adapted to be raised and lowered, and a pivoted brace for said seat.

3. A walking crutch comprising a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs spaced apart, fixed tops secured to and connecting the upper ends of the front and rear legs, fixed side braces secured to said front and rear legs, adjustable rear braces secured to said rear legs, adjustabley and removable front brace secured to said front legs, arm rest supporting rods mounted within the fixed tops and side braces, arm rests secured on the upper ends of said supporting rods, means carried by said armrests and said tops for adjusting the distance between said arm rests and said tops, hand grips mounted on said supporting rods, means carried thereby for locking the same thereon, a seat post mounted on the rear adjustable cross braces, means for securing said seat post to said cross braces, a seat supporting member carried by said seat post, a seat attached thereto and adapted to fold, a brace for said seat adapted to fold with it, wheels pivoted to the front legs, wheels rotatably mounted within the rearl legs, brake shoes mounted adjacent thereto and adapted tol Contact with said wheels, a brake rod having its lower end secured to said shoe, a hand lever pivoted to one of said rear legs andy connected to the upper end of said brake rod.

In testimony whereof we afIiX our signatures. ,v

ADOLF FINKBEINER.

ELIZABETH MILDRED FINKBEINER. 

